Readout device with rounding off control means incorporated



Jan 9, 1945. J WHEELER 2,13%5590 READOUT DEVICE WITH ROUNDING OFF CONTROL MEANS mcoamm'mn Filed March 10. 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

Jan. 9, 1945. J. N. WHEELER Filed March 10, 1942 3 Sheets-fSheet 2 t, mw mm aw m g A TTORNEYQ Jan. 9, 1945. j N WHEELER 2,366,890

READOUT'DEVICE WITH ROUNDING OFF CONTROL MEANS INCORPORATED Filed March 10, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nb WmN G WkINI/EETOZ.

' ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 9, 1945 EEADOUT DEVICE WITH ROUNDIN G OFF CONTROL MEANS INCORPORATED John N. Wheeler, Hawthorne, 'N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a eorporationof New York Application March 10, 1942, Serial No. 434,102

6 Claims.

This invention relates to accounting machines and more particularly to thetype in which result recording is effected under control of a final result accumulator and wherein theresult is changed by a rounding oil operation.

In bookkeeping systems, it is sometimes desirable to accept the tens order of a final :result derived by a computing machine as one digit higher when the digital value of the lower or units order 5 to .9. This, in the art, is known as rounding oil operations. Previously it was the practice to effect a rounding off operation by causing the lower order accumulator wheel to receive the entry of 5 and through the usual carry operation the next accumulator wheel would be augmented by 1 if the lower order wheel represented either 5 to .9. This, however, required an additionalcycle of machine operation and lengthened the time to get the rounded oil result.

The main object .of the present invention is to provide for rounding oii operations independently of accumulator operation and without requiring an additional operation of the machine. To this end, the improvementis applied to a readout of a well'known construction in which is incorporated a rounding on device, whereby the digital setting of the higher order section of the readout will be augmented by the digital value of one unit when the readout section of the lower order represents any of the digits 5 to 9.

Mor specifically the object is attained'by pro viding for each lower order a supplementzilreadout section which detects whether the lower order represents -4 or -9. In accordance with such digit representations there is a selection of one of two additional readout sections of next higher order, one section having normal wiringfor reading out the original indicated digit when the lower order is 0-9 and the other section wireddifferently so as to read out the next higherdigit when the lower order represents 5-9.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide these additionalreadout sections for each lower order and next higher order of the readout to additionally includea selective arrangement whereby rounding off operations may be effected for any of the higher orders of the readout.

A still further object of the invention is to provide for the automatic recording of zeros for one or more of the lower orders which consisto'f the orders in which roundingoff operations are not effected. Thereby the order which is rounded off will represent either the original indicated digit or the next higher :digit and the lower orders and will be recorded byoneor more zeros. This will enable the recording of the final result in the manner desirable andv suitable .for some accounting systems.

A still further object of the invention is to en able rounding off operations to be effected for orders still higher than the selected order when the selected order represents :9,-.and is to be augmented by a unit. This resembles somewhat carry operations in an accumulator andis incorporated in the present arrangement so as ,to provide proper recording of rounded ,ofi" figuresirrespective of the original digitrepresentation.

While the readout shown .herein is preferably set in accordance with the \digitrepresentation of a final resultaccumulatonit is obvious that the readout may represent an item which, may be required to be rounded off and therefore the disclosure .ofa readout controlled by an accumulator should be considered .as merely illustrative .and not restrictive. Furthermore, the type of recording mechanism controlled by the readout isalso immaterial. Since the readout may control .a printing mechanism .but furthermore may be utilized as .the controlling element fora punching recording mechanism, th coordination of two diiierent types of recordingmechanism with the improved readout illustrates very clearly thatthe invention is not restricted to. its coordination with any specific type of recording mechanisms and various other types may be utilized with similar advantages and benefits.

Other objects of the invention will bepointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of examplethe principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic layout of-the-drive from several of the illustrative accumulator elements to the brush readout sections.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentarysectionalviewshowing the construction and arrangement of the drive for some of the readoutsections.

Fig. 3 illustrates a conventional -form of printing mechanism which may be coordinated with the present readout.

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram showing the wiring of the improved readout and its coordination with the print-selectingmagnets of the printing mechanism shown in "'Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a'viewsimilartdFig. 4:but"showsthe wiring when the improved readout is to becoordinated for control of punching mechanism of a well known type.

The construction of the result readout device is similar to that shown in the patent to G. F. Daly, 2,045 337, dated June 23, 1936, for the MPRO readout shown in Fig. 12, the construction shown therein being modified for adaptation to the present invention. The electrical connections for the readout are shown in Figs. 4 and 5 whereas Fig. 1 shows the driving gear connections for three illustrative orders.

In l, 2% represents the clutch gear pertaining to the units order of the result accumulator and corresponds to the accumulator clutch element which is driven differentially to represent the digit of the entry. Gear 24! of the readout is driven from this clutch gear and gear 24! in turn drives a brush assembly designated 242a which traverses the complete series of digit representing segments E43 and a common current supply segment 244. Elements 242a, 243 and 244 represent the customary elements of each section of a readout device. Like the construction shown in Patent No. 2,045,437, the lower section of the readout, which has just been described, is provided with an associated and concurrently driven upper section and the brush assembly of the upper section of the units order is driven as follows: A gear is driven from the gear 24 I which in turn drives the gear 253 which positions a single brush assembly The brush 2541i traverses a complete series of digit representing segments 25? as well as a current supply segment 25%. It will, therefore, be noted that the units or lowest order of the result readout consists of two concurrently driven sections. These segments are wired as shown in Fig. 4 and Will be subsequently described in detail.

The tens, hundreds and thousands order sections are all similar in construction and Fig. 1 represents the driving connections for each of these orders, it being described, particularly in connection with the tens order. The tens order clutch wheel 243 positions four concurrently driven brush assemblies, two being provided in the lower driven section and two in the upper driven section. The tens order clutch wheel 248 drives a gear 238 which drives a brush assembly 2451? and this brush assembly contacts with a common current supply segment 249 and only the 9 digit representing segment, it being noted that for this section (as well as for corresponding sections of higher orders) the other digit representing segments are omitted. (See also Fig. 4.) A gear is driven from the gear 239 which in turn drives a gear 23! and by such gear 231 a brush assembly 255i is driven which cooperates with a common current supply segment 259 and a series of digit representing segments 221. Also by the gear 23? a brush assembly 235i is driven and this cooperates with a complete series of digit representing segments 235 and a common current supply segment 234. Also, in the lower section the gear 233 drives a brush assembly 24215 cooperating with a complete series of digit representing segments 59 and a common current supply segment 251.

The highest order of the result readout device or" the present invention, and which herein consists of the tens of thousands order, comprises only three sections. gear pertaining to the highest order is represented by the numeral 233 which drives a brush 232tth through a series of idler gears 23L The brush The accumulator clutch.

232tth is provided with a common current supply segment 230 but the brush 232tth cooperates only with the 9 digit representing segment, the others being omitted for this brush assembly. The idler gear 23l which is directly driven by the clutch gear 233 drives a brush assembly 229tth which cooperates with a series of digit representing segments 220 and also a common current supply segment 223. The idler gear which drives brush assembly 232tth also drives a brush assembly 22|tth which cooperates with digit representing segments 223 and a common current supply segment 222. Therefore, the highest order of the result readout consists of one lower driven section and two upper driven sections.

Recording mechanism It may be well at this time to understand that the improved readout device is adapted to control any suitable type of recording mechanism and at this time the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 will be described in order to better understand how the readout of the digital values in the readout device can be interpreted in printing a result on a result sheet. As will be later described, instead of printing the values punching mechanism may also be utilized.

The printing mechanism shown in Fig. 3 is of a well known construction and is used in tabulating machines for printing both items and totals and in the present case it would obviously be used for recording the total results.

Shaft 25 designates the usual total printing shaft which rotates a cam 26. Cam 26, through the lever 21, causes a crosshead 28 to be raised and lowered under the action of cam 26. A plurality of type bars 29 are spring connected to the crosshead 28 and as the crosshead is raised, and lowered, the type bars are operated the same way. As each type bar is raised, the ratchet teeth 35 thereof pass a pawl 34. At the time that the type 30 of a type bar approaches the printing position in front of the conventional platen 3|, a circuit is completed to a printing selecting magnet 32 which attracts its armature 33, releasing the stop pawl 34 and causing the pawl to engage the proper tooth 35 of the type bar, thus stopping any further movement of the type bar 30. When the type bars are at the printing position, hammers 36 are operated to print from the type upon a sheet surrounding the platen 3|. As the crosshead 28 is lowered, the type bars are positively restored to their home position. It is understood that a type bar selecting magnet 32 is provided for each denominational order and these are shown in the electrical diagram in Fig. 4, it being noted that suitable plug connections 4| are made between the plug sockets 42 connected to the print selecting magnets 32 and the plug sockets 40 pertaining to the successive denominational orders of the readout. The denominational orders of the plug sockets 40 increase from right to left, this being also true of the denominational orders of the printing selecting magnets 32.

Rounding 017 devicerounding of? operations for units order In multiplying or dividing it is sometimes desirable to record the result amount to the nearest tens, hundreds, thousands digit, etc., which operation is known in the art as rounding off. For example, if the computation results should be 40 to 44, in accounting practice this will'be accepted as a round figure, namely 40; whereas it the computation result should terminate in the digits 5 to 9 in the units order, this should be-recorded as one higher in the tens order. Thus, if the computation result should be '45 to '49, the result would be rounded oil to the next higher tens digit and recorded as 50-. At present there will now be described the operations which take place when the rounding off operation is effected for the tens order, being determined by the units order.

' To accomplish this a plug wire connection 44 is made between the plug socket 43 and the plug socket 451: for the tens order and when the switch SW closes, a circuit will be completed from the line 48' through the switch SW, plug socket 43, plug connection 44, plug socket 45a,and thence through the relay coil A to the line 49, thereby energizing relay A and the latter will transfer itsconta'cts A2, A3, and A5, A6. Other contacts controlled by the-relay A will also be transferred but these will be ineffective for the present example.

Referring to the wiring diagram (Fig. 4), an emitter 46 of a well known construction is illushated and comprises a current supply segment, a brush 41, and a series of commutator elements having suitable connections to the digit lines 50, there being ten digit lines, one for each of the digits to 9, inclusive. The emitter has a wire connection from the current supply segment to the line side 48 and through the various sections of the readout selected impulses are directed to the printing selecting magnets 32. At this point it might be well to state that the brush assembly 41 of emitter 46 makes one-half revolution for each complete revolution of shaft 25. The impulses are thereby transmitted from the'emitter through the readout to energize magnets 32 at times which are in synchronous relationship with thepresentation of the type to the printing position.

It willbe assumed that the final computation result represents a value from 40 to -44 and'the rounding off operation should cause the recording of this amount as 40-. It will be noted that the tens recording control circuit is made by the plug connection to the plug socket tend the tens circuitextends from this plugsocket through the relay contacts B3, which are now closed, to the current supplysegment 258 which is engaged by the brush 254a and which latter may be at any of the digit representing positions O-Qbut at 4 in the assumed example. It will be noted that the segments 25! engaged bythe brush 2541i are divided into two separate groups, 0 to 4 and 5 to 9 and the segments 0 to 4 are interconnected and by a wire 5| are connected to the current supply segment 234 associated with the tens order brush 236t which is positioned to engage the 4 segment of the associated series 235. The other group of segments of the group 251 representing 5 to 9 are interconnected by a wire 52 and when the tens order is selected for rounding oiT the circuit extends through the contact A6 to the current supply segment 259 of a readout section of the tens order. The segment 259 is contacted by the brush 254t which latter engages the series of digit segments 221. It willfbe noted that the group of digit segments 235 representing the same digit are connected to the digit lines 50 bearing the samedigital valuebut the set of digit representing segments 22 1 are connected to the next higher digit lines. Therefore, whenthe units order representsO to 4, the tens order'will be recorded-as the same-digit are wired so that they a but whenever the unit's'order represents 5 to '9, the tens order will be recorded as one higher than the original digit. In either case, the first readout section of the units order will be ineffective for recording due to the fact that the energization of the A'relay has closed the A2 contacts and connected the units recording control circuit at the plug socket 40a to the zero digit impulse line.

In order to make a clearer reference to the particular sections of the readout which are involved in the description of operation, it will be noted that beneath each section there is a numeral enclosed by a circle and this numeral identifies the particular numbered readout section which will be referred to in the description. The units order consists of sections 1 and 2; the tens order consists of sections 3, 4, 5 and 6, the hundreds l-IO, etc.

Therefore, in rounding out the tens order, it will be noted that-section l of the dual section of the units order will be ineffective, due to the opening of contacts A3 and closure of A2 contacts, and furthermore, whether section the tens order will be eifective for the readout of the digital value will be dependent upon the brush setting of brush 254a of section 2 of the units order. If readout section 2 of the units order represents 0 to 4, section 4 will'be selected for operation but if section 2 of the units order represents either 5 to 9, section '3 of the tens order will be selected for operation.

'It is also understood that ations are not'to be efiected, there will be a nor- A somewhat similar circuit connection can be traced for the hundreds, thousands, and tens of thousands order.

Selective operation of rounding 0 device for orders above the units order the next lower order.

To this nd, 'a series of relays designated B, C, I

and D areprovided with suitable plug socket connections so that by an appropriate plug connection 44 the rounding off operation may be effected for'the selected order. When'the plug 3 or section 4 of connection is made to plug socket 451), the relay B will b energized which will close its contacts Bl, thereby energizing the relay A. These relays are energized for rounding off operations for the hundreds order, and in accordanc with the digital value of the next lower or tens order, the digital value will be either increased in the hundreds order or read out as the original indicated digit.

This rounding off operation is desirable when values such as 400 to 440, 500-540, 700-740, etc., are to be recorded as 400, 500, 700, whereas values ranging from 450 to 490, 550-590, 750-790 are to be recorded as a rounded off figure or 500, 600, 800. It will be noted that in the result recorded, 400 or 500, for example, the original units and tens digits are disregarded and recorded as zeros. The energization of the relays A and B will close their respective contacts A2 and B2 which will connect the units and tens H order recording control circuits to the digit line 50, invariably recording zeros'for these two orders when the hundreds order is to be rounded off. For the hundreds order control circuit which terminates at the plug socket h, it will be noted that the normal closure of contacts C3 will connect this circuit to the segment of readout section 5 of the tens order which is the type of readout section previously described in that it can discriminate between the digit positions 0 When the brush 242i for the tens order is at the digit positions 0 to 4, it will be noted that readout section 8 is selected for operation so that the normal digit representation of the hundreds order will be recorded. However, if 5 to 9 should be represented in the tens order, the hundreds order circuit will be closed from the brush 242i through the 5 to 9 digit segments of readout section 5, through contacts B5 now closed to readout section "I of the hundreds order. This is the type of readout section previously described in that its digit representing segments are connected to the digit lines 59 one digit higher. Hence, if the tens order represents 5 to 9, the hundreds Order will be augmented in its digit representation by a units digit.

Rounding of? operations for thousands and tens of thousands order The selective operation for the rounding off device for the hundreds order is effected by making the plug connection 44 to the plug socket 451), whereas for the thousands order, the plug connection is made to the plug socket 450. When I,

the relay coil C is energized, the relay coils B and A will also be energized, whereas when the D coil is energized by the selective plug connection to plug socket 45d for rounding off in the tens of thousands order the other coils C, B and A will be energized. In each case, it will be noted that in accordance with the coils energized, the A2, B2, C2 and D2 contacts will be closed so that when the plug sockets 401i to 40th are the lower orders of the particular order to be rounded off, each of these entry control circuits will be connected to the zero digit impulse line 59. When the relay coil C is energized for rounding off operations in the thousands order, it will be noted that the closure of contacts C5 will cause the segments 5 to 9 of readout section 9 of the hundreds order to cause a circuit to be closed through contacts C6 to select readout section H of the thousands order. Since relay contacts D3 are normally closed in rounding off the thousands order, the digit reptacts C3, readout section 5 at resenting segments 0 to 4 of readout section 9 will select readout section l2 of the thousands order for recording.

Likewise, when the tens of thousands order, which is the extreme order at the left, is to be rounded off, the relay coil D will be energized and by the closure of contacts D6, readout section 13 of the thousands order will select readout section l5 of the tens of thousands order for augmenting the tens of thousands order by 1 if the digit representing brush in the thousands order represents a value from 5 to 9. From the plug socket 40tth for the tens of thousands order control circuit, it will be noted that the control circuit is directly connected to the current supply segment of readout section [3 and if the related brush of this readout section represents 0 to 4, the readout section It of the tens of thousands order is selected for digit recording. In this case, the original digital value of the tens of thousands order will be recorded and all lower orders will be recorded as zeros.

Summarizing:

1. If the order lower than the order selected for rounding off represents the digits 0-4, this order is unchanged and the original digital representation thereon is recorded.

2. If the order lower than the order selected for rounding ofi represents the digits 5-9, the digit representation of this order is augmented by a unit in recording.

3. All orders which may be one or more below the order selected cor rounding ofi should be recorded as 0 irrespective of the recording made for the order selected for rounding off.

Rounding 01) operations utilizing 9 carry In the previously described examples the description of rounding ofi operations involving "9 carry was avoided but these operations must be provided for when the selected order to be rounded off ends in 9 and should be augmented by 1, due to the lower order representing 5-9. This control is efiected for the tens, hundreds, and thousands order by the supplemental readout sections numbered 6, l0, and 14, a similar type of readout section ll being provided for a special purpose in the tens of thousands order.

When the tens order is selected for rounding ofi, relay A is energized to close contacts A4 and if such order represents 9 the readout section 6 will have its brush standing at the 9 digit segments, causing a circuit to be closed from line 48, through switch SW, contact A4, through the current supply segment 249, related brush 245i, and 9 digit segment of readout section 6 to relay E, to line 49. Relay E energizes and closes contacts E2, and opens-contacts E I. The opening of contacts El will open the hundreds recording control circuit atthis point, the normal circuit being from plug socket 40h, contacts C3, readout 5 at the 9 digit position, through contacts B1, El to readout section 8 to thus prevent recording of the original indicated digit in the hundreds order. The closure of contacts E2 will cause this circuit to be made from contacts Bl through contacts E2 to readout section I, which is the type of readout section to augment by 1 the original indicated digit. Obviously, if the tens order stands at 9, the hundreds entry control circuit will be from plug socket 40h, through con- 9 digit position, contacts B1, contacts E2, to readout section 1. Hence, whatever the original digital value in the hundreds order, this will be increased by a unit.

Infith'e above example arecording of Ofwill be made'for the tens-order because readoutsection 3-was selected for recording by: the 5-9segments of section Zand'since brush 25 is at 9 in readout section-3 a zero-will be recorded because of the wiring to the impulse line.-

A numerical condition i'salso met-where succeeding higher orders are at "9. For example: -9995-; and since it was explainedhow'the hundreds order was recorded as: 1'for a rounded off number such as -95-, it will be observed that if thehundredsorder'is at 9','readout section I 0 will represent 9; With readout section 6 at "9, relay E will be energized and' by the wire connection 53, the-energizingcircuit is extended through readout section l0 to' relay F to energize the latter. Hence, the thousandsorder control circuit will bethrough relay contacts D3], readout section 9 at 9, relay contacts relay contacts F2 to readout section II' which also being at 9'will be readout as 0: The readout section M, in a similar manner, will cause relay G to-be energized and-if the tens of'thousands order is at any digit position but Qjreadout section M will select readout section I5 for'recording; augmenting the digit representation" therein by a unit.

Summarizing:

1. If in the selected order to berounded off the digit is "9, and the next lower order position is at 5-9, the selected order must be readout as zero and the next higher order one unithigher.

2. If in the selected order to be rounded off the digit and all orders above are 9 and the lowest order digit is 5-9; allof these orders must be readout as zero and the order carried to must be recorded by a unit higher.

Preferably, if the readout should represent -99995-, the digit representing capacity of the illustrative readout, the rounded off result should be recorded as -100G00- andiseffectedas follows: Relays E, F, G are energized as described, and readout section M will continue the energizing circuit to readout section I! which, being at 9, will cause relay H to energize, and close its H2 contacts. Hence, the recording control circuit for the hundreds of. thousands order at plug socket lflh-th will extend by wire 54 through relay contacts H2, and by a wire 55 to the 1 digit impulse wire 50. of the recording mechanism will record 1.

It should also be noted that the particular order where carry.operations are started and Thus, the highest order incidental zero recording for lower orders is determined by the particular relays A, B, C, or D energized, If rounding off should be selected for the hundreds order; relay B is energized; and B! contacts are opened, thus opening the 9 transfer circuit through B'l contacts and E2 contacts to readout section I even if the tens order should, be at 9. However, the 9 carry can be effected for higher orders including the hundreds order if such orders are at 9.

In the same manner relays C and D disable, by the opening of'their contacts C5; and D5,.the carry circuits from the hundreds and thousands orders when rounding oil should be instituted at the thousands and tens of thousands order.

Alternative fo m of result recording mechanism The operation of the improved readout device has been described in connection with the recording mechanism'of the type shown in Fig. 3 wherein concurrent result recording operations may be performed. The improved readout may also be. used astherecording control means for a recording mechanism of the successive recording: type and; for example, may comprise the type, of punching machine shown in the patent to. F. L. Lee et al. No. 1,976,618, dated October 9,1934.

The electrical Wiring connections from the readout to the coordinated elements of the punching machine are shown in Fig. 5, it being noted-that for the impulse emitter 46 a series of punch control magnets 51. are in circuit connection with the digit lines 50. These magnets correspond to the punch selecting magnets designated 69 inthe aforementioned patent. It will be understood. therefore, that as; the successive orders of; the readout are read out, the punch selecting magnets 51 will be selected for energization to. eiiect the punching of the card to represent the digits corresponding to the roundedbfi result amount. In each order where an increment of unit is to be made, the punch selecting magnet 5! of the next higher digit will be selected for operation.

In the; upper left. hand corner of Fig. 5 there is shown a step-by-step column readout device designated generall by reference numeral 55. This type of column readout is well known in the art. and is shown in a number of prior patents, among thesebeing the patent to Daly 2,016,706, dated October 8, 1935. As a general description of theoperation of this column. readout device, as the card carriage is stepped along the; contact 56' is moved therewith to successively establish the recording control circuits, thereby causing the readout. sections to select the punch selecting magnets to punch the card order by order.-

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention shown in the preferred embodiment, it will be: understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A readout device for rounding off digits in ahigher order according to digit representations in a lower order comprising a series of digit lines, a higher order circuit, a lower order readout section comprising a pair of digit representing segments, one at digit representing positions 0-4 and the other at 5-9 and an element settable on either of said segments according to the lower order digit representation, a dual section higher order readout comprising two settable elements and two sets of digit represent ng segments, one set being connected to the digit lines of the same digital value. and the other set connected to digit lines of the next higher digit,

' said digit segment. 0- 1 of the lower order and the related settable element when at any of the 0-4 digit positions completing a circuit from the higher order circuit to the settable element in contact with the set of segments of the higher order which are connected to digit lines of the same digital value, and the digit segment 5-9 of the lower order and the related settable element when at any of the 5-9 digit positions completing a circuit connection from the higher order circuit to the settable element in contact with the set of segments of the higher order which are connected to the digit lines of the next higher digit.

2. A readout device for rounding oil digits in a higher order according to digit representations in a lower order comprising a series of digit lines, a higher order recording circuit, a series of digit recording control elements connected to corresponding digit lines, a lower order readout section comprising a pair of digit representing segments, one at digit representing positions -4 and. the other at -9 and an element settable on either of said segments according to the lower order digit representation, a dual section higher order readout comprising two settable elements and two sets of digit representing segments, one set being connected to the digit lines of the same digital value, and the other set connected to digit lines of the next higher digit, said digit segment 0-4 of the lower order and the related settable element when at any of the 0-4 digit positions providing a circuit connection from the higher order recording circuit to the settable element engaging the set of segments of higher order which are connected through said digit lines to digit recording control elements of the same digital value, and the digit segment 5-9 of the lower order and the related settable element when at any of the digit positions 5-9 providing a circuit connection from the higher order recording circuit to the settable element engaging the set of segments of the higher order which are connected through said digit lines to the digit recording control elements of the next higher digit.

3. A readout device for rounding off digits in a higher order according to digit representations in a lower order comprising a series of digit lines, a units order circuit, a tens order circuit, a units order readout section comprising a pair of digit representing segments, one at digit representing positions 0-4 and the other at 5-9 and a settable element in circuit connection with the tens order circuit settable on either of said segments according to the units order digit representation, a dual section tens order readout comprising two settable elements and two sets of digit representing segments, one set being connected to the digit lines of the same digital value, and the other set connected to digit lines of the next higher d git, the settable element of the units order providing when at any of the 0-4 digit positions a circuit connection from the tens order circuit to the settable element engaging the set of segments of the tens order which are connected to digit lines of the same digital value, and the settable element of the units order when at any of the 5-9 digit positions providing a circuit connection from the tens order circuit to the settable element engaging the set of segments of the tens order which are connected to digit lines of the next higher digit, selectively operated meant, and means controlled by the selectively oper'k'xl means for connecting the units order circuit to the 0? digit line and for enabling the aforementioned circuit connections from the tens order circuit to be completed under control of the settable element of the units order according to its digit position 0-4 or 5-9.

4. A readout device for selectively rounding on digits in one of a plurality of higher hundreds or tens orders according to digit representations in the next lower tens or units order respectively, comprising a series of digit lines, a units order circuit, a tens order circuit, a hundreds order circuit, a readout section for the units and tens order, each comprising a pair of segments, one at digit representing positions 0-4 and the other at 5-9 and a settable element in circuit connection with the next higher order circuit and settable on either of said segments according to the related order digit representation, a dual section tens and hundreds order readout comprising for each order two settable elements and two sets of digit representing segments, one set being connected to the digit lines of the same digital value, and the other set connected to digit lines of the next higher digit, the 0-4 segment of the units or tens order and the related settable element when at any of the digit positions 0-4 providing circuit connections from the next higher or tens or hundreds circuit respectively, to the settable element engaging the related set of segments of the tens or hundreds order which are connected to digit lines of the same digital value, the 5-9 segment of the units or tens order and the related settable element when at any of the digit positions 5-9 providing circuit connections from the next higher or tens or hundreds order circuit respectively, to the settable element engaging the related set of segments of the tens or hundreds order which are connected to digit lines of the next higher digit, means selectively operable when rounding off is to be effected in the tens order, means controlled by said means for enabling circuit connections to be completed under control of the settable means of the units order according to its digit positions 0-4, 5-9, other means selectively operable when rounding oiT is to be effected in the hundreds order, and means controlled b said last named means to open the circuit connection between the settable element of the units order and the tens order circuit and for enabling circuit connections to be completed for the hundreds order circuit under control of the settable meansof the tens order according to its digit positions 0-4, 5-9.

5. A readout device for selectively rounding oiT digits in a higher order beyond the units order comprising a set of digit recording control elements, a subdivided supplemental digit representing means for the units order and each higher order in which a digit is to be rounded off for detecting by its digit representation whether the related order represents 0-4 or 5-9, a dual section readout for each higher order exclusive of the units order, each section comprising a settable means and a set of segments, the segments of one section having wiring connections to digit recording control elements of the same digital value and the settable means thereof having a circuit connection to the d git representing means of the subdivision of the readout of next lower order representing 0-4, and the segments of the other readout section having wiring connections to digit recording control elements of the next higher digit value, and the settable means thereof, having a circuit connection to the digit representing means of the other subdivision of next lower order representing 5-9. a plurality of selectively operable control means one for each order in which a digit round ng oil operation is to be effected, and means controlled by each of said control means for causing the related subdivided supplemental digit representing means to have the aforesaid circuit connections completed to one readout of the dual section of next higher order or the other readout thereof dependent upon the d git representation of the subdivided digit representing means next lower in order, and for rendering inefiective the subdivided supplemental digit representing means in all orders below that in which the subdivided digit representing means are effective to control rounding off operations.

6. A machine according to claim 4 which further includes devices to connect the units order circuit to the 0 digit line, and supplemental devices to connect the tens order circuit to the 0 digit line, and wherein the means which is selectively operable when rounding off is efiected in the tens order causes the operation of the first named devices, and the means which is selectively operable when rounding off is to be effected in the hundreds order causes the operation of both of said devices.

JOHN N. WHEELER. 

